Gallstones

Presence of stones in the gallbladder is referred to as cholelithiasis. A gallstone is a crystalline concretion formed within the gallbladder by accretion of bile components. These calculi are formed in the gallbladder, but may pass distally into other parts of the biliary tract such as the cystic duct, common bile duct, pancreatic duct, or the ampulla of Vater. Rarely, in cases of severe inflammation, gallstones may erode through the gallbladder into adherent bowel potentially causing an obstruction termed gallstone ileus.

Presence of gallstones in the gallbladder may lead to acute cholecystitis, an inflammatory condition characterized by retention of bile in the gallbladder and often secondary infection by intestinal microorganisms, predominantly Escherichia coli and Bacteroides species.

Characteristics and composition:

Gallstones can vary in size and shape from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball. The gallbladder may contain a single large stone or many smaller ones. On the basis of their composition, gallstones can be divided into the following types:

Cholesterol stones

Cholesterol stones vary in color from light-yellow to dark-green or brown and are oval 2 to 3 cm in length, often having a tiny dark central spot. To be classified as such, they must be at least 80% cholesterol by weight.

Pigment stones

Pigment stones are small, dark stones made of bilirubin and calcium salts that are found in bile. They contain less than 20% of cholesterol.

Mixed stones

Mixed gallstones typically contain 20–80% cholesterol. Other common constituents are calcium carbonate, palmitate phosphate, bilirubin, and other bile pigments. Because of their calcium content, they are often radiographically visible.

Signs and symptoms:

Gallstones may be asymptomatic, even for years. These gallstones are called “silent stones” and do not require treatment. A characteristic symptom of gallstones is a “gallstone attack”, in which a person may experience intense pain in the upper-right side of the abdomen, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, that steadily increases for approximately 30 minutes to several hours. A patient may also experience referred painbetween the shoulder blades or below the right shoulder. These symptoms may resemble those of a “kidney stone attack”. Often, attacks occur after a particularly fatty meal and almost always happen at night. Other symptoms include abdominal bloating, intolerance of fatty foods, belching, gas, and indigestion.

Our Treatment Strategy for Gall Bladder Stones is aimed at dissolution of stone. We provide medication that gradually dissolves the stone. This is achieved by using our medication continuously over a period of time. The length of this treatment depends on the size and chemical composition of the stone and varies from case to case. However, during this period of prolonged treatment the patient remains free from any symptoms related to this disease and is able to carry on his/her normal life. Homoeopathy helps in the disease by dissolving the stone through proper remedies. With homoeopathic treatment one can successfully control the pain as well as the swelling of gall bladder. It also arrests further development of the gall bladder stones.